Yeah, sorry, probably should have said something more like "If you're into urban fantasy at all, then you might like The Dresden Files." I got all caught up in my fanboyism for a second there.
Sorry you didn't like the books, by the way.
SF/F Books: Chapter Two - What Are You Reading?
- Thread starter Neroon
- Start date
Sorry you didn't like the books, by the way.
I'm not utterly counting out the possibility of reading more of them, I'm just not running to the bookstore or library. It was interesting, I'll give it that. And not an awful read by any means.Yeah, sorry, probably should have said something more like "If you're into urban fantasy at all, then you might like The Dresden Files." I got all caught up in my fanboyism for a second there.
Sorry you didn't like the books, by the way.
Finished: Wicked
Now Reading: Mars Life by Ben Bova. Interestingly, something I noticed recently is the fact that each of his Mars books are published by different publishers.
Now Reading: Mars Life by Ben Bova. Interestingly, something I noticed recently is the fact that each of his Mars books are published by different publishers.
On the Bova Mars books - is that because they weren't successful? Or just a coincidence?
I'm looking at the Amazon page for the first one and trying to decide if I want to buy it or not.
I'm looking at the Amazon page for the first one and trying to decide if I want to buy it or not.
The Mars books have been published so far apart; that is probably why. Haven't read the 3rd yet.
I am reading The Terror. Great so far.
I am reading The Terror. Great so far.
It's probably just a coincidence since they've been written over a span of years, or even decades. On the whole, I think the Mars novels are his most successful. The first one is one of my favourite Mars novels ever. It's not about a colony, like a lot of novels about Mars are, but rather it feels like a realistic expectation of what a mission to Mars would be like.
For those interested:
Mars = Bantam
Return to Mars = Eos/Harper Collins
Mars Life = Tor
More Than Human: You know, when I step back and think about the premise of the novel I don't like it much. The sort of evolutionary 'theories' and the attendant secrecy behind it
really doesn't seem as impressive as the novel's excellent prose and bewildering, serious start led me to expect... but no matter, as that really doesn't impact on the quality of the book. Which, you know, from Theodore ponn farr Sturgeon himself, is pretty damn good. Brilliant, even. Recommend it highly; it becomes quite addictive when pieces of the puzzle start falling into place - I just felt like quibbling.
The Left Hand of Darkness: This was also good. If I wanted to quibble (and I've indicated I do); the novel is one of those sci-fi stories that requires that Earth was apparently colonzied from space, which I've also not got an enormous fondness for... but that's an extremely tertiary issue (it's implied but of no consequence) in an excellently developed and realized fantasy world. I liked the cultural distinctions and the examination of how a completely transgendered society developed in isolation of binary genders might work, but the two nations (or rather proto-nations in Karhide's case at least) discussed at length have enough depth to sustain them far beyond that initial hook; it's just one more detail of many that informs the whole logic of this snow-beaten world. I think I should pick up more Le Guin were I to actually start reading again more often because this was magnificent.
Heck, Left Hand of Darkness would make a really excellent Star Trek episode; like a version of "The Other" that didn't suck. The rules governing Ekumen contact were pretty interesting, and the Ekumen itself seems closer to the ideals of the Federation sui generis then the Federation really is (that the ethical standard is dependent on the shifting consensus of the member worlds is good.)
Also I now know where Pemmer Harge's handle comes from. If nothing else surely the novel is worth reading for that?
that is that there's a secret psychic extra-human society that's existed for some time now
The Left Hand of Darkness: This was also good. If I wanted to quibble (and I've indicated I do); the novel is one of those sci-fi stories that requires that Earth was apparently colonzied from space, which I've also not got an enormous fondness for... but that's an extremely tertiary issue (it's implied but of no consequence) in an excellently developed and realized fantasy world. I liked the cultural distinctions and the examination of how a completely transgendered society developed in isolation of binary genders might work, but the two nations (or rather proto-nations in Karhide's case at least) discussed at length have enough depth to sustain them far beyond that initial hook; it's just one more detail of many that informs the whole logic of this snow-beaten world. I think I should pick up more Le Guin were I to actually start reading again more often because this was magnificent.
Heck, Left Hand of Darkness would make a really excellent Star Trek episode; like a version of "The Other" that didn't suck. The rules governing Ekumen contact were pretty interesting, and the Ekumen itself seems closer to the ideals of the Federation sui generis then the Federation really is (that the ethical standard is dependent on the shifting consensus of the member worlds is good.)
Also I now know where Pemmer Harge's handle comes from. If nothing else surely the novel is worth reading for that?
I'm reading Greg Cox's excellent Infinite Crisis novelization. It's so good IMO that I'm putting it right up there with Elliot S. Maggins excellent novelization of Kingdom Come.
Thanks! That's high praise indeed.
If you're interested, FINAL CRISIS comes out next week!
I'm planning on buying it when I come back from camping...I was wondering though Greg is it an oversized paperback or like Infinite Crisis a normal paperback?
It's a large trade paperback. Presumably a smaller mass-market paperback will come out eventually . . . .
Rii
Rear Admiral
Still reading His Dark Materials.
One issue I had with TLHOD, particularly in the early stages, was the sheer quantity of invented terminology, a lot of it entirely unconnected to anything. There was an awful lot to keep track of. I got over it, though, and very much enjoyed the novel. The journey across the ice was remarkable.
I like the ambiguity that Le Guin injects into TLHOD and other works. There's a definite thesis connecting the world's two most unusual qualities - the lack of gender and lack of war - but it's not an absolute thing. Karhide and the other nation may well have gone to war with each other in the course of the novel had things unfolded differently.
The Dispossessed is my favourite work of Le Guin's.
One issue I had with TLHOD, particularly in the early stages, was the sheer quantity of invented terminology, a lot of it entirely unconnected to anything. There was an awful lot to keep track of. I got over it, though, and very much enjoyed the novel. The journey across the ice was remarkable.
I like the ambiguity that Le Guin injects into TLHOD and other works. There's a definite thesis connecting the world's two most unusual qualities - the lack of gender and lack of war - but it's not an absolute thing. Karhide and the other nation may well have gone to war with each other in the course of the novel had things unfolded differently.
The Dispossessed is my favourite work of Le Guin's.
I was at the other end of the spectrum. I eat up terminology, but travelogues I find less interesting reads - the journey through the ice to me was more interesting for character then location (though she definitely has an eye for it.)
And indeed, going to war is a way for Karhide to become a nation. It's more of a loose feudal autocracy at this point, with the different Domains more leery of their neighbours then rival nations.
As far as subtelty goes, I like that it doesn't fall into the classic fantasy cliche of monarchy bad, more modern system good - both nations have their flaws and good points at pretty much every level.
I guess I'll have to grab that eventually. She's very good.The Dispossessed is my favourite work of Le Guin's.
I just got back from a 12 day road trip (from Phoenix to San Francisco, Mt. St. Helens, Grand Coulee Dam, Glacier National Park, Badlands National Park, Mt. Rushmore, Denver, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, and back). I was expecting to do a lot of reading then, but didn't get as much as I thought. The other guy was blasting the classic rock too loudly to concentrate for most of the time.
However, I did still manage to finally finish The Dark Glory War by Michael Stackpole. I had been losing interest in the book, mostly since I find Stackpole's elaborate detailing of the battle scenes fairly dull, especially the big battles where there are lots of minor characters to keep track of. But the big plot twist at the end was a doozy and definately enough to get me excited about the next book.
I'd planned on spending a lot of time on the road reading American Gods for the 3rd time. (And I never re-read novels, so that's high praise indeed.) It seems like a good thing to read on a crosscountry road trip of America since much of the book is itself a crosscountry road trip (although he spends a lot more time back east than I do).
However, my attempt to do that got derailed when I visited Powell's, the world's largest used bookstore in Portland. While I was there, I found a used book club edition of On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers. It was kinda expensive but that's because it's out of print and it's expensive anywhere. I probably paid only slightly more than I would have had I ordered it online (if you count shipping). So far, I'm about 3 chapters into it and it's pretty interesting. (Supposedly, this book is what they're adapting into the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie. So far, I can see where Captain Barbosa would fit in but I'm not quite sure how they plan to incorporate Jack Sparrow.)
However, I did still manage to finally finish The Dark Glory War by Michael Stackpole. I had been losing interest in the book, mostly since I find Stackpole's elaborate detailing of the battle scenes fairly dull, especially the big battles where there are lots of minor characters to keep track of. But the big plot twist at the end was a doozy and definately enough to get me excited about the next book.
Just when it seems that the heroes have the villain on the run, they walk right into a trap. A bunch of major characters are killed or near death and make a bargain with the villain for her to spare their lives in exchange for becoming her new undead generals. The main character barely makes it back to civilization alive, and when he does, he's branded a liar and exiled from his homeland and disowned by his family for "defaming" the heroes that defected to the other side.
I'd planned on spending a lot of time on the road reading American Gods for the 3rd time. (And I never re-read novels, so that's high praise indeed.) It seems like a good thing to read on a crosscountry road trip of America since much of the book is itself a crosscountry road trip (although he spends a lot more time back east than I do).
However, my attempt to do that got derailed when I visited Powell's, the world's largest used bookstore in Portland. While I was there, I found a used book club edition of On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers. It was kinda expensive but that's because it's out of print and it's expensive anywhere. I probably paid only slightly more than I would have had I ordered it online (if you count shipping). So far, I'm about 3 chapters into it and it's pretty interesting. (Supposedly, this book is what they're adapting into the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie. So far, I can see where Captain Barbosa would fit in but I'm not quite sure how they plan to incorporate Jack Sparrow.)
BTW, I recently read that I have to wait until March of next year for Patrick Rothfuss' sequel to The Name of the Wind. Seriously?!? That much longer?!? 
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